Optical image stabilizer

ABSTRACT

An image stabilizer includes a guide device which guides an image-stabilizing optical element in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis and an image shake counteracting driving device, the image shake counteracting driving device including a drive source; a first moving element; a second moving element capable of transferring a moving force of the first moving element to a holder which holds the image-stabilizing optical element; and a mutual guiding device which couples the first and second moving elements to allow the first and second moving elements to move relative to each other in the guide direction. The mutual guiding device includes two first slidable portions provided at two different positions in a direction orthogonal to the guide direction, respectively; and one second slidable portion provided at a position different from the positions of the two first slidable portions in the guide direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an optical image stabilizer, incorporated in optical equipment such as a camera or binoculars, for counteracting image shake due to vibrations such as hand shake.

2. Description of the Related Art

Image stabilizers (optical image stabilizers) for optical equipment prevent image shake from occurring on a focal plane by driving a part (image-stabilizing optical element) of an optical system relative to an optical axis thereof in accordance with the direction and the magnitude of vibration, such as hand shake, is applied to the optical equipment. However, since the image-stabilizing optical element needs to be driven at high velocity in a fast responsive manner, such movement tends to be a burden on the driving mechanism therefor. Namely, the image-stabilizing optical element easily reaches a mechanical limit of movement thereof in the case where the magnitude of vibration is great, and the movement of the image-stabilizing optical element is easily restricted by some other reason. In such a movement limited state of the image-stabilizing optical element, further application of a driving force to the image-stabilizing optical element causes a driving force transfer mechanism for the image-stabilizing optical element to be subjected to mechanical stress and thus may cause damage to a low-strength portion of the driving force transfer mechanism. Additionally, in the case where the image-stabilizing optical element is supported by a support mechanism at all times to be freely movable, there is a possibility of the image-stabilizing optical element being moved forcibly if a strong external force is applied to the optical equipment in an accident, e.g., when the optical apparatus is accidentally dropped to the ground, which also causes the driving force transfer mechanism for the image-stabilizing optical element to be subjected to mechanical stress.

For instance, in the case of using a motor with a feed screw as a driving source for the image-stabilizing optical element, the less the lead angle (pitch) of the feed screw is, the more the accuracy of moving the image-stabilizing optical element (the mechanical resolution thereof) can be enhanced. However, a reduction of the lead angle of the feed screw is disadvantageous to the strength of the feed screw mechanism. Due to this fact, when a high-precision feed screw is adopted, the lead angle thereof being small, there is a possibility of the feed screw being damaged (e.g., the thread jamming). To prevent this problem from occurring, the range of movement of the image-stabilizing optical element can be increased so that the image-stabilizing optical element does not reach a mechanical limit of movement thereof easily, and the image-stabilizing optical element can be mechanically locked when not in operation. However, if the range of movement of the image-stabilizing optical element is increased, the image stabilizer may increase in size. If the image-stabilizing optical element is mechanically locked when not in operation, providing the image-stabilizing optical element with an independent locking mechanism for the image-stabilizing optical element may complicate the structure of the image stabilizer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an optical image stabilizer having a simple and small structure that prevents a driving mechanism for an image-stabilizing optical element from being accidentally damaged.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an image stabilizer is provided, including at least one guide device which guides an image-stabilizing optical element of an optical system in a guide direction orthogonal to an optical axis and an image shake counteracting driving device which moves the image-stabilizing optical element in the guide direction so as to counteract image shake in accordance with a direction and a magnitude of vibration applied to the optical system, the image shake counteracting driving device including a drive source; a first moving element moved in the guide direction by the drive source; a second moving element capable of transferring a moving force of the first moving element to a holder which holds the image-stabilizing optical element when the second moving element is moved in the guide direction by a movement of the first moving element; and a mutual guiding device which couples the first moving element and the second moving element in a manner to allow the first moving element and the second moving element to move relative to each other in the guide direction. The mutual guiding device includes at least two first slidable portions provided at two different positions in a direction orthogonal to the guide direction, respectively; and at least one second slidable portion provided at a position different from the positions of the two first slidable portions in the guide direction.

It is desirable for each of the two first slidable portions and the second slidable portion to include a hole formed on one of the first moving element and the second moving element; and a pin formed on the other of the first moving element and the second moving element so as to be slidably engaged in the hole.

It is desirable for the pin and the hole to be formed integral with the one and the other of the first moving element and the second moving element, respectively.

It is desirable for the two holes of the two first slidable portions to be mutually different in shape.

It is desirable for one of the two first slidable portions and the second slidable portion to be positioned on a same straight line extending in the guide direction.

It is desirable for a first pair of lug portions to be provided on one and the other of the first moving element and the second moving element, the first pair lug portions being opposed to each other in the guide direction; a second pair lug portions to be provided on one and the other of the first moving element and the second moving element, the second pair lug portions being opposed to each other in the guide direction; and for the two first slidable portions to be provided between the first pair lug portions, and the second slidable portion are provided between the second pair lug portions.

It is desirable for at least one of the first pair lug portions and the second pair lug portions to have a movement limit portion which limits the range of relative movement between the first moving element and the second moving element to a predetermined range of movement when the movement limit portion is brought into an engaged state.

It is desirable for the image stabilizer to include at least one first biasing device which biases the first moving element and the second moving element in directions to bring the movement limit portion into the engaged state; and at least one second biasing device which biases the second moving element in a direction opposite to the biasing direction of the first biasing device. The first biasing device is positioned between the two first slidable portions and the second slidable portion. It is desirable for at least two of the guide devices which guide the image-stabilizing optical element linearly in at least two different guide directions in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis to be provided, and for at least two of the image shake counteracting driving devices which move the image-stabilizing optical element in the two different guide directions, respectively, are provided so as to counteract image shake. Each of the two image shake counteracting driving devices includes the first moving element, the second moving element and the mutual guiding device.

It is desirable for the two different guide directions to be orthogonal to each other.

It is desirable for the image stabilizer to be incorporated in an imaging device, the image-stabilizing optical element including an image pickup device.

The image stabilizer can include a stationary frame which supports the second moving element in a manner to allow the second moving element to move linearly in the guide direction relative to the stationary frame.

It is desirable for the drive source to be a motor mounted to the stationary frame.

It is desirable for each of the first biasing device and the second biasing device to be an extension coil spring.

According to the present invention, a simple and small structure of the image stabilizer can prevent the driving mechanism for the image-stabilizing optical element from being accidentally damaged without the need to either increase the range of movement of the image-stabilizing optical element or provide the image-stabilizing optical element with any locking mechanism for mechanically locking the image-stabilizing optical element. Specifically, even though the mutual guiding device is simple and small in structure, the first moving element and the second moving element can be made to operate with a high degree of precision because the mutual guiding device is composed of the two first slidable portions, which are provided at two different positions in a direction orthogonal to the guide direction of the guide device, and the second slidable portion, which is provided at a position different from the positions of the two first slidable portions in the guide direction.

The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2005-192554 (filed on Jun. 30, 2005) and 2005-253426 (filed on Sep. 1, 2005), which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of a digital camera incorporating an image stabilizer according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the digital camera shown in FIG. 1 in a ready-to-photograph state of the zoom lens thereof;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the digital camera shown in FIG. 1 in the fully-retracted state of the zoom lens;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the zoom lens of the digital camera shown in FIG. 1 in the fully-retracted state of the zoom lens;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the zoom lens shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of another portion of the zoom lens shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of an image stabilizing unit (image stabilizing mechanism) shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the image stabilizing unit shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the image stabilizing unit shown in FIG. 5, viewed from an angle different from the angle of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the image stabilizing unit;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the image stabilizing unit in the vicinity of a stationary holder thereof;

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of an X-axis direction moving stage and associated elements shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of the X-axis direction moving stage shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of a first X-axis direction moving member, a second X-axis direction moving member and an associated extension joining spring of the image stabilizing unit, showing an exploded state thereof;

FIG. 15 is a rear perspective view of the first X-axis direction moving member, the second X-axis direction moving member and the associated extension joining spring that are shown in FIG. 14, showing an exploded state and an assembled state thereof;

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of a Y-axis direction moving member, a Y-axis direction moving stage and an associated extension joining spring of the image stabilizing unit;

FIG. 17 is a rear perspective view of the Y-axis direction moving member, the Y-axis direction moving stage and the associated extension joining spring that are shown in FIG. 16, showing an exploded state and an assembled state thereof;

FIG. 18 is a front perspective view of the image stabilizing unit from which the stationary holder is removed;

FIG. 19 is a rear perspective view of the elements of the image stabilizing unit shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a front perspective view of the elements of the image stabilizing unit shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 from which drive motors, photo-interrupters and biasing springs are further removed;

FIG. 21 is a rear perspective view of the elements of the image stabilizing unit shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a front perspective view of the elements of the image stabilizing unit shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 from which the second X-axis direction moving member and the Y-axis direction moving member are further removed;

FIG. 23 is a rear perspective view of the elements of the image stabilizing unit shown in FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a diagrammatic illustration of the image stabilizing unit, showing the structure thereof;

FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of electrical circuits of the digital camera shown in FIGS. 1 through 3;

FIG. 26 is a view similar to that of FIG. 18, showing another embodiment (second embodiment) of the image stabilizing unit from which the stationary holder is removed;

FIG. 27 is a rear perspective view of the elements of the image stabilizing unit shown in FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a diagrammatic illustration of the second embodiment of the image stabilizing unit, showing the structure thereof; and

FIG. 29 is a diagrammatic illustration of another embodiment of the image stabilizing unit, which is different from those shown in FIGS. 26 and 27.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows an outward appearance of a digital camera 200 which incorporates an image stabilizer according to the present invention. The digital camera 200 is provided on the front of a camera body 202 thereof with a zoom lens (zoom lens barrel) 201, an optical viewfinder 203 and a flash 204, and is provided on the top of the camera body 202 with a shutter button 205.

The zoom lens 201 of the digital camera 200, longitudinal sectional views of which are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is driven to advance toward the object side (leftward viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3) from the camera body 202 as shown in FIG. 2 during a photographing operation. When photography is no being carried out, the digital camera 200 moves from a ready-to-photograph state shown in FIG. 2 to a fully-retracted state shown in FIG. 3 in which the zoom lens 201 is accommodated (fully retracted) in the camera body 202 as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 2, the upper half and the lower half of the zoom lens 201 from a photographing optical axis Z1 show a ready-to-photograph state of the zoom lens 201 at the wide-angle extremity and the telephoto extremity, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the zoom lens 201 is provided with a plurality of ring members (hollow-cylindrical members): a second linear guide ring 10, a cam ring 11, a third movable barrel 12, a second movable barrel 13, a first linear guide ring 14, a first movable barrel 15, a helicoid ring 18 and a stationary barrel 22 which are substantially concentrically arranged about a common axis that is shown as a lens barrel axis Z0 in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The zoom lens 201 is provided with a photographing optical system including a first lens group LG1, a shutter S, an adjustable diaphragm A, a second lens group LG2, a third lens group LG3, a low-pass filter 25 and a CCD image sensor (image-stabilizing optical element) 60 that serves an image pickup device. Optical elements from the first lens group LG1 to the CCD image sensor 60 are positioned on the photographing optical axis (common optical axis) Z1 when the zoom lens 201 is in a ready-to-photograph state. The photographing optical axis Z1 is parallel to the lens barrel axis Z0 and positioned below the lens barrel axis Z0. The first lens group LG1 and the second lens group LG2 are moved along the photographing optical axis Z1 in a predetermined moving manner to perform a zooming operation, and the third lens group LG3 is moved along the photographing optical axis Z1 to perform a focusing operation. In the following description, the term “optical axis direction” refers to a direction parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1 and the terms “object side” and “image side” refer to forward and rearward of the digital camera 200, respectively. Additionally, in the following description, the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the digital camera 200 in a plane orthogonal to the photographing optical axis Z1 refer are defined as a Y-axis direction and an X-axis direction, respectively.

The stationary barrel 22 is positioned in the camera body 202 and fixed thereto, while a stationary holder 23 is fixed to a rear portion of the stationary barrel 22. The CCD image sensor 60 and the low-pass filter 25 are supported by the stationary holder 23 via a Y-axis direction moving stage (second moving element) 71 and an X-axis direction moving stage (holder for the image-stabilizing optical element) 21 to be movable in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The digital camera 200 is provided behind the stationary holder 23 with an LCD panel 20 which indicates visual images and various photographic information.

The zoom lens 201 is provided in the stationary barrel 22 with a third lens frame 51 which supports and holds the third lens group LG3. The zoom lens 201 is provided between the stationary holder 23 and the stationary barrel 22 with a pair of guide shafts 52 and 53 which extend parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1 to guide the third lens frame 51 in the optical axis direction without rotating the third lens frame 51 about the lens barrel axis Z0. The third lens frame 51 is biased forward by a third lens frame biasing spring (extension coil spring) 55. The digital camera 200 is provided with a focusing motor 160 having a rotary drive shaft which is threaded to serve as a feed screw, and the rotary drive shaft is screwed through a screw hole formed on an AF nut 54. If the AF nut 54 is moved rearward by a rotation of the rotary drive shaft of the focusing motor 160, the third lens frame 51 is pressed by the AF nut 54 to move rearward. Conversely, if the AF nut 54 is moved forward, the third lens frame 51 follows the AF nut 54 to move forward by the biasing force of the third lens frame biasing spring 55. Due to this structure, the third lens frame 51 can be moved forward and rearward in the optical axis direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, the digital camera 200 is provided on the stationary barrel 22 with a zoom motor 150 which is supported by the stationary barrel 22. The driving force of the zoom motor 150 is transferred to a zoom gear 28 (see FIG. 5) via a reduction gear train (not shown). The zoom gear 28 is rotatably fitted on a zoom gear shaft 29 extending parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1. Front and rear ends of the zoom gear shaft 29 are fixed to the stationary barrel 22 and the stationary holder 23, respectively.

The helicoid ring 18 is positioned inside the stationary barrel 22 and supported thereby. The helicoid ring 18 is rotated by rotation of the zoom gear 28. The helicoid ring 18 is moved forwards and rearward in the optical axis direction while being rotated about the lens barrel axis Z0 via a helicoid structure (provided between the helicoid ring 18 and the stationary barrel 22) within a predetermined range in the optical axis direction between the position in the fully-retracted state of the zoom lens 201 shown in FIG. 3 to the position in the state of the zoom lens 201 immediately before the zoom lens 201 is in the ready-to-photograph state thereof at the wide-angle extremity shown by the upper half of the zoom lens 201 in FIG. 2. In a ready-to-photograph state of the zoom lens 201 shown in FIG. 2 (between the wide-angle extremity and the telephoto extremity), the helicoid ring 18 is rotated at a fixed position without moving in the optical axis direction. The first movable barrel 15 is coupled to the helicoid ring 18 to be rotatable together with the helicoid ring 18 about the lens barrel axis Z0 and to be movable together with the helicoid ring 18 in the optical axis direction.

The first linear guide ring 14 is positioned inside the first movable barrel 15 and the helicoid ring 18 and supported thereby. The first linear guide ring 14 is guided linearly in the optical axis direction via linear guide grooves formed on the stationary barrel 22, and is engaged with the first movable barrel 15 and the helicoid ring 18 to be rotatable about the lens barrel axis Z0 relative to the first movable barrel 15 and the helicoid ring 18, and to be movable in the optical axis direction together with the first movable barrel 15 and the helicoid ring 18.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first linear guide ring 14 is provided with a set of three through-slots 14 a (only two of which appear in FIG. 5) which radially penetrate the first linear guide ring 14. Each through-slot 14 a includes a circumferential slot portion and an inclined lead slot portion which extends obliquely rearward from one end of the circumferential slot portion. The inclined lead slot portion is inclined with respect to the optical axis direction, while the circumferential slot portion extends circumferentially about the lens barrel axis Z0. A set of three followers 11 a (only two of which appear in FIG. 6) which project radially outward from an outer peripheral surface of the cam ring 11 are engaged in the set of three through-slots 14 a, respectively. The set of three followers 11 a are further engaged in a set of three rotation transfer grooves 15 a which are formed on an inner peripheral surface of the first movable barrel 15 and extend parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1 so that the cam ring 11 rotates with the first movable barrel 15. When the set of three followers 11 a are engaged in the lead slot portions of the set of three through-slots 14 a, respectively, the cam ring 11 is moved forward and rearward in the optical axis direction while being rotated about the lens barrel axis Z0 and guided by the set of three through-slots 14 a. On the other hand, when the set of three followers 11 a are engaged in the circumferential slot portions of the set of three through-slots 14 a, respectively, the cam ring 11 is rotated at a fixed position without moving in the optical axis direction. Similar to the helicoid ring 18, the cam ring 11 is moved forward and rearward in the optical axis direction while being rotated about the lens barrel axis Z0 within a predetermined range in the optical axis direction between the position in the fully-retracted state of the zoom lens 201 shown in FIG. 3 to the position in the state of the zoom lens 201 immediately before the zoom lens 201 enters the ready-to-photograph state thereof at the wide-angle extremity (shown by the upper half of the zoom lens 201 in FIG. 2), and the cam ring 11 is rotated at a fixed position without moving in the optical axis direction in a ready-to-photograph state of the zoom lens 201 shown in FIG. 2 (between the wide-angle extremity and the telephoto extremity).

The first linear guide ring 14 guides the second linear guide ring 10 and the second movable ring 13 linearly in the optical axis direction by linear guide grooves which are formed on an inner peripheral surface of the first linear guide ring 14 to extend parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1. The second linear guide ring 10 guides a second lens group moving frame 8, which indirectly supports the second lens group LG2, linearly in the optical axis direction, while the second movable barrel 13 guides the third movable barrel 12, which indirectly supports the first lens group LG1, linearly in the optical axis direction. Each of the second linear guide ring 10 and the second movable barrel 13 is supported by the cam ring 11 to be rotatable relative to the cam ring 11 about the lens barrel axis Z0 and to be movable together with the cam ring 11 in the optical axis direction.

The cam ring 11 is provided on an inner peripheral surface thereof with a plurality of inner cam grooves 11 b for moving the second lens group LG2, and the second lens group moving frame 8 is provided on an outer peripheral surface thereof with a plurality of cam followers 8 a which are engaged in the plurality of inner cam grooves 11 b, respectively. Since the second lens group moving frame 8 is guided linearly in the optical axis direction without rotating via the second linear guide ring 10, a rotation of the cam ring 11 causes the second lens group moving frame 8 to move in the optical axis direction in a predetermined moving manner in accordance with contours of the plurality of inner cam grooves 11 b.

As shown in FIG. 6, the zoom lens 201 is provided inside the second lens group moving frame 8 with a second lens frame 6 which supports and holds the second lens group LG2. The second lens frame 6 is supported by the second lens group moving frame 8 to be rotatable (swingable) about a pivot shaft 33. The pivot shaft 33 extends parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1. The second lens frame-6 is swingable about the pivot shaft 33 between a photographing position (shown in FIG. 2) where the second lens group LG2 is positioned on the photographing optical axis Z1, and a radially retracted position (shown in FIG. 3) where the optical axis of the second lens group LG2 is retracted away from the photographing optical axis Z1 to be positioned above the photographing optical axis Z1. The second lens frame 6 is biased to rotate in a direction toward the aforementioned photographing position of the second lens frame 6 by a torsion spring 39. The stationary holder 23 is provided with a position-control cam bar (second lens frame removing device) 23 a (see FIG. 5) which projects forward from the stationary holder 23 to be engageable with the second lens frame 6 so that the position-control cam bar 23 a comes into pressing contact with the second lens frame 6 to rotate the second lens frame 6 to the radially retracted position thereof against the biasing force of the torsion spring 39 when the second lens group moving frame 8 moves rearward in a retracting direction to approach the stationary holder 23.

The second movable barrel 13, which is guided linearly in the optical axis direction without rotating by the second linear guide ring 10, guides the third movable barrel 12 linearly in the optical axis direction. The third movable barrel 12 is provided on an inner peripheral surface thereof with a set of three cam followers 31 (see FIG. 6) which project radially inwards, and the cam ring 11 is provided on an outer peripheral surface thereof with a set of three outer cam grooves 11 c (cam grooves for moving the first lens group LG1; only two of them appear in FIG. 6) in which the set of three cam followers 31 are slidably engaged, respectively. The zoom lens 201 is provided inside the third movable barrel 12 with a first lens frame 1 which is supported by the third movable barrel 12 via a first lens group adjustment ring 2.

The zoom lens 201 is provided between the first and second lens groups LG1 and LG2 with a shutter unit 100 including the shutter S and the adjustable diaphragm A. The shutter unit 100 is positioned inside the second lens group moving frame 8 and fixed thereto.

Operations of the zoom lens 201 that has the above described structure will be discussed hereinafter. In the state shown in FIG. 3, in which the zoom lens 201 is in the fully-retracted state, the zoom lens 201 is fully accommodated in the camera body 202. Upon a main switch 101 (see FIG. 25) provided on an outer surface of the camera body 202 being turned ON in the fully-retracted state of the zoom lens 201 shown in FIG. 3, the zoom motor 150 is driven to rotate in a lens barrel advancing direction by control of a control circuit 102 (see FIG. 25) provided in the camera body 202. This rotation of the zoom motor 150 rotates the zoom gear 28. The rotation of the zoom gear 28 causes a combination of the first movable barrel 15 and the helicoid ring 18 to move forward while rotating about the lens barrel axis Z0 due to the aforementioned helicoid structure, and further causes the first linear guide ring 14 to move forward linearly together with the first movable barrel 15 and the helicoid ring 18. At this time, the cam ring 11 which rotates by rotation of the first movable barrel 15 moves forward in the optical axis direction by an amount of movement corresponding to the sum of the amount of the forward movement of the first linear guide ring 14 and the amount of the forward movement of the cam ring 11 by a leading structure between the first linear guide ring 14 and the cam ring 11, i.e., by the engagement of the inclined lead slot portions of the set of three through-slots 14 a and the set of three followers 11 a of the cam ring 11, respectively. Once the helicoid ring 18 and the cam ring 11 advance to respective predetermined points thereof, the functions of a rotating/advancing mechanism (the aforementioned helicoid structure) between the helicoid ring 18 and the stationary barrel 22) and another rotating/advancing mechanism (the aforementioned leading structure) between the cam ring 11 and the first linear guide ring 14 are canceled, so that each of the helicoid ring 18 and the cam ring 11 rotates about the lens barrel axis Z0 without moving in the optical axis direction.

A rotation of the cam ring 11 causes the second lens group moving frame 8, which is positioned inside the cam ring 11 and guided linearly in the optical axis direction via the second linear guide ring 10, to move in the optical axis direction with respect to the cam ring 11 in a predetermined moving manner due to the engagement of the set of three cam followers 8 a with the set of three inner cam grooves 11 b, respectively. In the state shown in FIG. 3, in which the zoom lens 201 is in the fully-retracted state, the second lens frame 6, which is positioned inside the second lens group moving frame 8, is held in the radially retracted position off the photographing optical axis Z1 by the action of the position-control cam bar 23 a, which projects forward from the stationary holder 23. During the course of movement of the second lens group moving frame 8 from the retracted position to a position in the zooming range, the second lens frame 6 is disengaged from the position-control cam bar 23 a to rotate about the pivot shaft 33 from the radially retracted position to the photographing position shown in FIG. 2, where the optical axis of the second lens group LG2 coincides with the photographing optical axis Z1, by the spring force of the torsion spring 39. Thereafter, the second lens frame 6 remains held in the photographing position until the zoom lens 201 is retracted into the camera body 201.

In addition, a rotation of the cam ring 11 causes the third movable barrel 12, which is positioned around the cam ring 11 and guided linearly in the optical axis direction via the second movable barrel 13, to move in the optical axis direction relative to the cam ring 11 in a predetermined moving manner due to the engagement of the set of three cam followers 31 with the set of three outer cam grooves 11 c of the cam ring 11, respectively.

Accordingly, an axial position of the first lens group LG1 relative to a picture plane (imaging surface/light receiving surface of the CCD image sensor 60) when the first lens group LG1 is moved forward from the fully-retracted position is determined by the sum of the amount of forward movement of the cam ring 11 relative to the stationary barrel 22 and the amount of movement of the third external barrel 12 relative to the cam ring 11, while an axial position of the second lens group LG2 relative to the picture plane when the second lens group LG2 is moved forward from the fully-retracted position is determined by the sum of the amount of forward movement of the cam ring 11 relative to the stationary barrel 22 and the amount of movement of the second lens group moving frame 8 relative to the cam ring 11. A zooming operation is carried out by moving the first and second lens groups LG1 and LG2 on the photographing optical axis Z1 while changing the air distance therebetween. When the zoom lens 201 is driven to advance from the fully-retracted position shown in FIG. 3, the zoom lens 201 firstly moves to a position shown above the photographing lens axis Z1 in FIG. 2 in which the zoom lens 201 is at the wide-angle extremity. Subsequently, the zoom lens 201 moves a position state shown below the photographing lens axis Z1 in FIG. 2 in which the zoom lens 201 is at the telephoto extremity by a further rotation of the zoom motor 150 in a lens barrel advancing direction thereof. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the space between the first and second lens groups LG1 and LG2 when the zoom lens 201 is at the wide-angle extremity is greater than when the zoom lens 201 is at the telephoto extremity. When the zoom lens 201 is at the telephoto extremity as shown below the photographing lens axis Z1 in FIG. 2, the first and second lens groups LG1 and LG2 have moved to approach each other to have some space therebetween which is smaller than the space in the zoom lens 201 at the wide-angle extremity. This variation of the air distance between the first and second lens groups LG1 and LG2 for the zooming operation is achieved by contours of the plurality of inner cam grooves 11 b (for moving the second lens group LG2) and the set of three outer cam grooves 11 c (for moving the first lens group LG1) of the cam ring 11. In the zooming range between the wide-angle extremity and the telephoto extremity, the cam ring 11, the first movable barrel 15 and the helicoid ring 18 rotate at their respective axial fixed positions, i.e., without moving in the optical axis direction.

In a ready-to-photograph state of the zoom lens 201 between the wide-angle extremity and the telephoto extremity, a focusing operation is carried out by moving the third lens group LG3 (the third lens frame 51) along the photographing optical axis Z1 by driving the AF motor 160 in accordance with object distance information obtained by a distance measuring device of the digital camera 200.

Upon the main switch 101 being turned OFF, the zoom motor 150 is driven to rotate in a lens barrel retracting direction so that the zoom lens 201 operates in the reverse manner to the above described advancing operation to fully retract the zoom lens 201 into the camera body 202 as shown in FIG. 3. During the course of this retracting movement of the zoom lens 201, the second lens frame 6 rotates about the pivot shaft 33 to the radially retracted position by the position-control cam bar 23 a while moving rearward together with the second lens group moving frame 8. When the zoom lens 201 is fully retracted into the camera body 202, the second lens group LG2 is retracted into the space radially outside the space in which the third lens group LG3, the low-pass filter LG4 and the CCD image sensor 60 are retracted as shown in FIG. 3, i.e., the second lens group LG2 is radially retracted into an axial range substantially identical to an axial range in the optical axis direction in which the third lens group LG3, the low-pass filter LG4 and the CCD image sensor 60 are positioned. This structure of the digital camera 200 for retracting the second lens group LG2 in this manner reduces the length of the zoom lens 201 when the zoom lens 201 is fully retracted, thus making it possible to reduce the thickness of the camera body 202 in the optical axis direction, i.e., in the horizontal direction as viewed in FIG. 3.

The digital camera 200 is provided with an image stabilizer (optical image stabilizer). This image stabilizer moves the CCD image sensor 60 in a plane orthogonal to the photographing optical axis Z1 to counteract image shake of an object image captured by the CCD image sensor 60 in accordance with the direction and the magnitude of vibration (hand shake) applied to the digital camera 200. This control is performed by the control circuit 102 (FIG. 25). FIGS. 7 through 9 show an image stabilizing unit (image stabilizer) IS including the CCD image sensor 60. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the entire image stabilizing unit IS and FIGS. 11 through 23 are perspective views or exploded perspective views of various portions of the image stabilizing unit IS.

The stationary holder 23 is provided with a pair of Y-axis direction guide rods (guide device) 73 and 79 which extend in the Y-axis direction (the vertical direction of the digital camera 200). The Y-axis direction moving stage 71 is provided with a guide hole 71 a and a guide groove 71 b (see FIG. 16) in which the pair of Y-axis direction guide rods 73 and 79 are engaged so that the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 is supported by the pair of Y-axis direction guide rods 73 and 79 to be freely slidable thereon, respectively. A pair of X-axis direction guide rods (guide device) 72 and 74 are fixed to the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 to extend in the X-axis direction (the horizontal direction of the digital camera 200) that is perpendicular to the Y-axis direction. The X-axis direction stage 21 is provided with a guide hole 21 a and a guide groove 21 b (see FIGS. 12 and 13) in which the pair of X-axis direction guide rods 72 and 74 are engaged so that the X-axis direction moving stage 21 is freely slidable thereon, respectively. Accordingly, the CCD image sensor 60 is supported by the stationary holder 23 via the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 and the X-axis direction moving stage 21 to be movable in two axial directions orthogonal to each other in a plane orthogonal to the photographing optical axis Z1. The range of movement of the X-axis direction stage 21 is defined by inner peripheral surfaces of the Y-axis direction moving stage 71, while the range of movement of the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 is defined by inner peripheral surfaces of the stationary holder 23.

The image stabilizing unit IS is provided with an X-axis direction stage biasing spring (second biasing device) 87 x which is extended and installed between a spring hook 21 v formed on the X-axis direction stage 21 and a spring hook 23 vx formed on the stationary holder 23. The X-axis direction stage biasing spring 87 x is an extension coil spring and biases the X-axis direction stage 21 rightward as viewed from the front of the zoom lens 201 (leftward as viewed from the rear of the zoom lens 201). The image stabilizing unit IS is provided with a Y-axis direction stage biasing spring (second biasing device) 87 y which is extended and installed between a spring hook 71 v formed on the Y-axis direction stage 71 and a spring hook 23 vy formed on the stationary holder 23. The Y-axis direction stage biasing spring 87 y is an extension coil spring and biases the Y-axis direction stage 71 downward.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the image stabilizing unit IS is provided on one side of the Y-axis direction stage 71 with a Y-axis direction moving member (first moving element) 80 which is supported by the Y-axis direction stage 71. The Y-axis direction moving member 80 is elongated in the Y-axis direction and provided in the vicinity of upper and lower ends of the Y-axis direction moving member 80 with a movement limit lug (movement limit portion) 80 a and a movement limit lug (movement limit portion) 80 b, respectively. The Y-axis direction moving member 80 is provided at a lower end thereof with a guide pin (second Y-axis-direction slidable portion) 80 c which extends downward from the movement limit lug 80 a. The movement limit lug 80 b is provided with a pair of guide holes (first Y-axis-direction slidable portions) 80 d. The Y-axis direction moving member 80 is further provided in the vicinity of the pair of guide holes 80 d with a nut contacting portion 80 e and a linear groove 80 f (see FIG. 16), and is further provided, on a vertically straight portion of the Y-axis direction moving member 80 between the movement limit lug 80 a and the movement limit lug 80 b, with a spring hook 80 g (see FIG. 17). The linear groove 80 f is elongated in the Y-axis direction.

The Y-axis direction stage 71 is provided with a movement limit lug (movement limit portion) 71 c and a movement limit lug (movement limit portion) 71 d which face the movement limit lug 80 a and the movement limit lug 80 b of the Y-axis direction moving member 80, respectively. The movement limit lug 71 c is provided with a guide hole (second Y-axis direction slidable portion) 71 e in which the guide pin 80 c is slidably engaged, while the movement limit lug 71 d is provided with a pair of guide pins (first Y-axis-direction slidable portions) 71 f which extend upward to be slidably engaged in the pair of guide holes 801 d, respectively. The Y-axis direction stage 71 is provided on a vertically straight portion thereof between the movement limit lug 71 c and a movement limit lug 711 d, with a spring hook 71 g.

The Y-axis direction stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80 are guided to be movable relative to each other in the Y-axis direction by the engagement of the guide hole 71 e with the guide pin 80 c and the engagement of the pair of guide pins 71 f with the pair of guide holes 80 d. The image stabilizing unit IS is provided with an extension joining spring (first biasing device) 81 y which is extended and installed between the spring hook 71 g of the Y-axis direction stage 71 and the spring hook 80 g of the Y-axis direction moving member 80. The extension joining spring 81 y biases the Y-axis direction stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80 in opposite directions to bring the movement limit lug 80 a the movement limit lug 71 c into contact with each other and to bring the movement limit lug 80 b the movement limit lug 71 d into contact with each other, i.e., in opposite directions to move the Y-axis direction stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80 upward and downward, respectively.

Another pair of X-axis direction guide rods 77 and 78 that are different from the pair of X-axis direction guide rods 72 and 74 are fixed to the stationary holder 23 to extend in the X-axis direction. The image stabilizing unit IS is provided with a first X-axis direction moving member (second moving element) 75 which is supported by the stationary holder 23 via the pair of X-axis direction guide rods 77 and 78 to be freely slidable thereon. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the first X-axis direction moving member 75 is elongated in the X-axis direction, and is provided, in the vicinity of opposite ends of the first X-axis direction moving member 75 in the X-axis direction, with a movement limit lug (movement limit portion) 75 a and a movement limit lug (movement limit portion) 75 b, respectively. A pair of guide holes 75 c in which the X-axis direction guide rod 77 is inserted are formed on the movement limit lugs 75 a and 75 b, respectively, to be aligned in the X-axis direction. A guide hole 75 d in which the X-axis direction guide rod 78 is inserted is formed on the movement limit lug 75 a. No guide hole corresponding to the guide hole 75 d is formed on the movement limit lug 75 b. The movement limit lug 75 a is provided between the associated guide hole 75 c and the guide hole 75 d with a pair of guide holes (first X-axis-direction slidable portions) 75 e. The movement limit lug 75 b is provided, above the associated guide hole 75 c in the Y-axis direction (see FIG. 15), with a guide pin (second X-axis direction slidable portion) 75 f which extends in the X-axis direction in a direction away from the movement limit lug 75 a. The first X-axis direction moving member 75 is further provided at the bottom of the movement limit lug 75 a with a linkage projection 75 g, and is further provided, on a horizontally straight portion of the first X-axis direction moving member 75 between the movement limit lug 75 a and a movement limit lug 75 b, with a spring hook 75 h.

The image stabilizing unit IS is provided on the first X-axis direction moving member 75 with a second X-axis direction moving member (first moving element) 76. The second X-axis direction moving member 76 is provided with a movement limit lug (movement limit portion) 76 a and a movement limit lug (movement limit portion) 76 b which are separate from each other in the X-axis direction. The movement limit lug 76 a is provided with a pair of guide pins (first X-axis-direction slidable portions) 76 c which extend in the X-axis direction to be slidably engaged in the pair of guide holes 75 e of the first X-axis direction moving member 75, respectively, and the movement limit lug 76 b is provided with a guide hole (second X-axis direction slidable portion) 76 d in which the guide pin 75 f of the first X-axis direction moving member 75 is slidably engaged. The second X-axis direction moving member 76 is further provided in the vicinity of the movement limit lug 76 a with a nut contacting portion 76 e and a linear groove 76 f (see FIG. 15), and is further provided, on a horizontally straight portion of the second X-axis direction moving member 76 between the movement limit lug 76 a and the movement limit lug 76 b, with a spring hook 76 g. The linear groove 76 f is elongated in the Y-axis direction.

The first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 are guided to be movable relative to each other in the X-axis direction by the engagement of the pair of guide pins 76 c with the pair of guide holes 75 e and the engagement of the guide pin 75 f with the guide hole 76 d. The image stabilizing unit IS is provided with an extension joining spring (first biasing device) 81 x which is extended and installed between the spring hook 75 h of the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the spring hook 76 g of the second X-axis direction moving member 76. The extension joining spring 81 x biases the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 in opposite directions to bring the movement limit lug 75 a and the movement limit lug 76 a into contact with each other and to bring the movement limit lug 75 b and the movement limit lug 76 b into contact with each other.

The linkage projection 75 g of the first X-axis direction moving member 75 is in contact with a transfer roller 21 c (see FIGS. 12, 13 and 24) mounted to the X-axis direction stage 21 so that a moving force in the X-axis direction is transferred from the first X-axis direction moving member 75 to the X-axis direction stage 21 via the contacting engagement between the linkage projection 75 g and the transfer roller 21 c. The transfer roller 21 c is supported by a rotation pin parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1 so as to be freely rotatable on the rotation pin. When the X-axis direction stage 21 moves with the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 in the Y-axis direction, the transfer roller 21 c rolls on a contacting surface of the linkage projection 75 g. This contacting surface of the linkage projection 75 g is a flat surface elongated in the Y-axis direction, and accordingly, allows the transfer roller 21 c to roll on the contacting surface of the linkage projection 75 g makes it possible for the X-axis direction stage 21 to move in the Y-axis direction without exerting any driving force in the Y-axis direction to the first X-axis direction moving member 75.

As shown in FIG. 11, the image stabilizing unit IS is provided with an X-axis drive motor (driving source) 170 x serving as a drive source for driving the CCD image sensor 60 in the X-axis direction and a Y-axis drive motor (driving source) 170 y serving as a drive source for driving the CCD image sensor 60 in the Y-axis direction. The X-axis drive motor 170 x and the Y-axis drive motor 170 y are fixed to a motor bracket 23 bx and a motor bracket 23 by, respectively, which are integrally formed on the stationary holder 23. Each of the X-axis drive motor 170 x and the Y-axis drive motor 170 y is a stepping motor. A drive shaft (rotary shaft) of the X-axis drive motor 170 x is threaded to serve as a feed screw 171 x, and a drive shaft (rotary shaft) of the Y-axis drive motor 170 y is threaded to serve as a feed screw 171 y. The feed screw 171 x is screwed into a female screw hole of an X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x and the feed screw 171 y is screwed into a female screw hole of a Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y. The X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x is guided linearly in the X-axis direction by the linear groove 76 f, and is in contact with the nut contacting portion 76 e. The Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y is guided linearly in the Y-axis direction by the linear groove 80 f, and is in contact with the nut contacting portion 80 e. The X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x can be screw-disengaged from either end of the feed screw 171 x, and the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y can be screw-disengaged from either end of the feed screw 171 y.

A nut-member biasing spring 89 x is positioned between the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x and the X-axis drive motor 170 x, and a nut-member biasing spring 89 y is positioned between the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 x and the X-axis drive motor 170 y. Each of the nut-member biasing springs 89 x and 89 y is a compression coil spring which is loosely fitted on the associated feed screw 171 x and 171 y, respectively, in a compressed state. The nut-member biasing spring 89 x biases the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x in a direction to bring the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x back into screw engagement with the X-axis drive motor 170 x in the case where the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x is disengaged from the X-axis drive motor 170 x toward the X-axis drive motor 170 x side. Likewise, the nut-member biasing spring 89 y biases the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y in a direction to bring the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y back into screw engagement with the Y-axis drive motor 170 y in the case where the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y is disengaged from the Y-axis drive motor 170 y toward the Y-axis drive motor 170 y side.

FIG. 24 schematically shows the structure of the image stabilizing unit IS, viewed from the rear of the digital camera 200. Note that the relative position between the X-axis direction guide rod 78 and the pair of guide pins 76 c, etc., are different from those shown in FIGS. 7 through 23 for the purpose of illustration. As can be understood from this schematic diagram, in the driving mechanism for driving the CCD image sensor 60 in the X-axis direction, the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 are coupled to each other resiliently by the biasing force of the extension joining spring 81 x with the movement limit lug 75 a and the movement limit lug 75 b in contact with the movement limit lug 76 a and the movement limit lug 76 b, respectively. The biasing force of the X-axis direction stage biasing spring 87 x is exerted on the first X-axis direction moving member 75 via the transfer roller 21 c, which is in contact with the linkage projection 75 g. Although the biasing force of the X-axis direction stage biasing spring 87 x is exerted on the first X-axis direction moving member 75 leftward as viewed in FIG. 24, i.e., in a direction to disengage the movement limit lugs 75 a and 75 b from the movement limit lugs 76 a and 76 b, respectively, the biasing force (spring force) of the extension joining spring 81 x is predetermined to be greater than that of the X-axis direction stage biasing spring 87 x. Therefore, the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 are collectively biased leftward as viewed in FIG. 24 while maintaining the movement limit lugs 75 a and 75 b in resilient contact with the movement limit lugs 76 a and 76 b, respectively. Since the leftward movement of the second X-axis direction moving member 76 is limited by the engagement of the nut contacting portion 76 e with the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x, the position of the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x serves as a reference position for each of the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 in the X-axis direction. As can be seen in FIG. 24, the end of the feed screw 171 x extends through a through-hole (see FIGS. 14 and 15) formed on the nut contacting portion 76 e so as not to interfere therewith.

Driving the X-axis drive motor 170 x to rotate the drive shaft thereof (the feed screw 171 x) causes the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x, that is screw-engaged with the feed screw 171 x, to move linearly in the X-axis direction, thus causing the relative position between the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 in the X-axis direction to vary. For instance, if moved rightward with respect to the view shown in FIG. 24, the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x presses the nut contacting portion 76 e in the same direction to thereby integrally move the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 rightward as viewed in FIG. 24 against the spring force of the X-axis direction stage biasing spring 87 x. If the first X-axis direction moving member 75 is moved rightward with respect to the view shown in FIG. 24, the linkage projection 75 g presses the transfer roller 21 c in the same direction to thereby move the X-axis direction stage 21 rightward as viewed in FIG. 24. Conversely, if the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x is moved leftward as viewed in FIG. 24, the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 follow the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x to integrally move leftward as viewed in FIG. 24 by the biasing force of the X-axis direction stage biasing spring 87 x. At this time, the X-axis direction stage 21 follows the first X-axis direction moving member 75 to move leftward as viewed in FIG. 24 by the biasing force of the X-axis direction stage biasing spring 87 x. The linkage projection 75 g and the transfer roller 21 c are maintained in contact with each other at all times by the biasing force of the X-axis direction stage biasing spring 87 x.

In the driving mechanism for driving the CCD image sensor 60 in the Y-axis direction, the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80 are resiliently coupled to each other via the extension joining spring 81 y with the movement limit lugs 71 c and 71 d being in contact with the movement limit lugs 80 a and 80 b, respectively. Although the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 is biased downward as viewed in FIG. 24 by the spring force of the Y-axis direction stage biasing spring 87 y, i.e., in a direction to disengage the movement limit lugs 71 c and 71 d from the movement limit lugs 80 a and 80 b, respectively, the biasing force (spring force) of the extension joining spring 81 y is predetermined to be greater than that of the Y-axis direction stage biasing spring 87 y. Therefore, the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80 are collectively biased downward while maintaining the movement limit lugs 71 c and 71 d in resilient contact with the movement limit lugs 80 a and 80 b, respectively. Since the downward movement of the Y-axis direction moving member 80 is limited by the engagement of the nut contacting portion 80 e with the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y, the position of the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y serves as a reference position for each of the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80 in the Y-axis direction. As can be seen in FIG. 24, the end of the feed screw 171 y extends through a through-hole (see FIGS. 16 and 17) formed on the nut contacting portion 80 e so as not to interfere therewith.

Driving the Y-axis drive motor 170 y to rotate the drive shaft thereof (the feed screw 171 y) causes the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y, that is screw-engaged with the feed screw 171 y, to move linearly in the Y-axis direction, thus causing the relative position between the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80 in the Y-axis direction to vary. For instance, if the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y is moved upward as viewed in FIG. 24, the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y presses the nut contacting portion 80 e in the same direction to thereby integrally move the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80 upward with respect to the view shown in FIG. 24 against the spring force of the Y-axis direction stage biasing spring 87 y. Conversely, if the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y is moved downward with respect to the view shown in FIG. 24, the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80 follow the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y to integrally move downward by the biasing force of the Y-axis direction stage biasing spring 87 y.

When the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 moves in the Y-axis direction, the X-axis direction stage 21 that is supported by the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 thereon moves together with the Y-axis direction moving stage 71. On the other hand, when the X-axis direction stage 21 moves together with the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 vertically in the Y-axis direction, the contacting point between the transfer roller 21 c and the contacting surface of the linkage projection 75 g varies because the first X-axis direction moving member 75, with which the transfer roller 21 c is in contact, does not move in the Y-axis direction. At this time, the transfer roller 21 c rolls on the contacting surface of the linkage projection 75 g, so that the X-axis direction stage 21 can be moved in the Y-axis direction without exerting any driving force in the Y-axis direction to the first X-axis direction moving member 75.

According to the above described structure of the image stabilizing unit IS, the X-axis direction stage 21 can be moved forward and reverse in the X-axis direction by driving the X-axis drive motor 170 x forward and reverse, respectively; and the Y-axis direction moving stage 71, together with the X-axis direction stage 21 that is supported by the Y-axis direction moving stage 71, can be moved forward and reverse in the Y-axis direction by driving the Y-axis drive motor 170 y forward and reverse, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the first X-axis direction moving member 75 is provided in the vicinity of the movement limit lug 75 a with a position detection lug 75 i in the shape of a small thin plate. As shown in FIG. 16, the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 is provided in the vicinity of the movement limit lug 71 c with a position detection lug 71 h in the shape of a small thin plate. As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the image stabilizing unit IS is provided with a first photo-interrupter 103 and a second photo-interrupter 104. The first photo-interrupter 103 detects the presence of the position detection lug 75 i of the first X-axis direction moving member 75 that passes between mutually facing emitter/receiver elements when the light beam is blocked by the position detection lug 75 i. Likewise, the second photo-interrupter 104 detects the presence of the position detection lug 71 h of the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 that passes between mutually facing emitter/receiver elements when the light beam is blocked by the position detection lug 71 h. The initial position of the first X-axis direction moving member 75 (the X-axis direction stage 21) in the X-axis direction can be detected by detecting the presence of the position detection lug 75 i by the first photo-interrupter 103, while the initial position of the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 in the Y-axis direction can be detected by detecting the presence of the position detection lug 71 h by the second photo-interrupter 104.

As shown in the block diagram in FIG. 25, the digital camera 200 is provided with an X-axis direction gyro sensor (angular velocity sensor) 105 and a Y-axis direction gyro sensor (angular velocity sensor) 106 which detect the angular velocity (angular speed) about two axes (the X-axis and the Y-axis) orthogonal to each other. The magnitude and the direction of camera shake (vibrations) applied to the digital camera 200 are detected by these two gyro sensors 105 and 106. Subsequently, the control circuit 102 determines a moving angle by time-integrating the angular velocity of the camera shake in the two axial directions, detected by the two gyro sensors 105 and 106. Subsequently, the control circuit 102 calculates from the moving angle the moving amounts of the image on a focal plane (imaging surface of the CCD image sensor 60) in the X-axis direction and in the Y-axis direction. The control circuit 102 further calculates the driving amounts and the driving directions of the X-axis direction stage 21 (the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76) and the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 (the Y-axis direction moving member 80) for the respective axial directions (driving pulses for the X-axis drive motor 170 x and the Y-axis drive motor 170 y) in order to counteract camera shake. Thereupon, the X-axis drive motor 170 x and the Y-axis drive motor 170 y are actuated and the operations thereof are controlled in accordance with the calculated values, which counteract image shake of an object image captured by the CCD image sensor 60. The digital camera 200 can be put into this image stabilization mode by turning on a photographing mode select switch 107 (see FIG. 25). If the photographing mode select switch 107 is in an off-state, the image stabilizing capability is deactivated so that a normal photographing operation is performed.

Additionally, by operating the photographing mode select switch 107, either a first tracking mode or a second tracking mode can be selected in the image stabilization mode. The image stabilizing capability remains activated by driving the X-axis drive motor 170 x and the Y-axis drive motor 170 y in the first tracking mode, while the image stabilizing capability is activated by driving the X-axis drive motor 170 x and the Y-axis drive motor 170 y only when a photometric switch 108 or a release switch 109 (see FIG. 25) provided in the digital camera 200 is turned ON in the second tracking mode. The photometric switch 108 is turned ON by depressing the shutter button 205 half way, and the release switch 109 is turned ON by fully depressing the shutter button 205.

The above illustrated image stabilizer of the digital camera 200 is provided with a damage-protection structure which absorbs loads and impacts on a driving force transfer mechanism from each of the X-axis drive motor 170 x and the Y-axis drive motor 170 y to the CCD image sensor 60 (the X-axis direction stage 21) to prevent damage to the feed screws 171 x and 171 y and other associated elements. This damage-protection structure is composed of two major components: a first component composed of the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 (which are resiliently coupled to each other by the extension joining spring 81 x) in the driving mechanism for driving the CCD image sensor 60 in the X-axis direction and a second part composed of the Y-axis direction stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80 (which are resiliently coupled to each other by the extension joining spring 81 y) in the driving mechanism for driving the CCD image sensor 60 in the Y-axis direction.

The driving mechanism for driving the CCD image sensor 60 in the X-axis direction has the capability of protecting itself from damage. This capability will be discussed hereinafter.

For instance, when the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x is moved rightward with respect to the view shown in FIG. 24 by the X-axis drive motor 170 x, the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76, which move integrally in a normal state, move relative to each other in the X-axis direction so as to disengage the movement limit lug 75 a and the movement limit lug 76 a (and also the movement limit lug 75 b and the movement limit lug 76 b) from each other against the biasing force of the extension joining spring 81 x in the event of the X-axis direction stage 21 abutting against the Y-axis direction stage 71 upon reaching a mechanical limit of movement of the X-axis direction stage 21 or other causes which interfere with movement of the X-axis direction stage 21. Specifically, the second X-axis direction moving member 76 can solely move rightward in the X-axis direction relative to the first X-axis direction moving member 75 in the case where movement of the first X-axis direction moving member 75, together with the X-axis direction stage 21, is prevented for some reason. This structure makes it possible for the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x to move along the feed screw 171 x even if the X-axis direction stage 21 becomes immobilized. This prevents excessive loads on the aforementioned driving force transfer mechanism, thus preventing thread jamming between the feed screw 171 x and the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x and further preventing damage to other associated parts of the driving force transfer mechanism. When the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x is moved leftward with respect to the view shown in FIG. 24 by the X-axis drive motor 170 x, the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x moves in a direction away from the nut contacting portion 76 e, and accordingly, the driving force of the X-axis drive motor 170 x does not act on either the first X-axis direction moving member 75 or the second X-axis direction moving member 76; hence, no undue loads are exerted on the driving force transfer mechanism even if movement of the X-axis direction stage 21 is prevented for some reason.

Similar to the driving mechanism for driving the CCD image sensor 60 in the X-axis direction, the driving mechanism for driving the CCD image sensor 60 in the Y-axis direction also has the capability of protecting itself from damage. This capability will be discussed hereinafter.

For instance, when the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y is moved upward with respect to the view shown in FIG. 24 by the Y-axis drive motor 170 y, the Y-axis direction moving member 80 and the Y-axis direction moving stage 71, which move integrally in a normal state, move relative to each other in the Y-axis direction to disengage the movement limit lug 71 c and the movement limit lug 80 a (and also the movement limit lug 71 d and the movement limit lug 80 b) away from each other against the biasing force of the extension joining spring 81 y in the event of the Y-axis direction stage 71 abutting against the stationary holder 23 upon reaching a mechanical limit of movement of the Y-axis direction stage 71 or other causes which interfere with movement of the Y-axis direction stage 71 (or the X-axis direction stage 21). Specifically, the Y-axis direction moving member 80 can solely move upward in the Y-axis direction relative to the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 in the case where movement of the Y-axis direction stage 71 is prevented for some reason. This structure makes it possible for the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y to move along the feed screw 171 y even if the Y-axis direction stage 71 becomes immobilized. This prevents excessive loads on the aforementioned driving force transfer mechanism, thus preventing thread jamming between the feed screw 171 y and the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y and further preventing damage to other associated parts of the driving force transfer mechanism. When the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y is moved downward with respect to the view shown in FIG. 24 by the Y-axis drive motor 170 y, the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y moves in a direction away from the nut contacting portion 80 e, and accordingly, the driving force of the Y-axis drive motor 170 y does not act on either the Y-axis direction moving member 80 or the Y-axis direction moving stage 71; hence, no undue loads are exerted on the driving force transfer mechanism even if movement of the Y-axis direction stage 71 is prevented for some reason.

As mentioned above, the range of movement of the X-axis direction stage 21 is defined by inner peripheral surfaces of the Y-axis direction moving stage 71, while the range of movement of the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 is defined by inner peripheral surfaces of the stationary holder 23. Namely, the mechanical limits of movement of the X-axis direction stage 21 in the X-axis direction are defined by inner peripheral surfaces of the Y-axis direction moving stage 71, while the mechanical limits of movement of the Y-axis direction stage 71 in the Y-axis direction are defined by inner peripheral surfaces of the stationary holder 23. It is desirable that the driving force of the X-axis drive motor 170 x be stopped being transferred from the feed screw 171 x to the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x upon the X-axis direction stage 21 reaching either of the right and left limits of movement thereof, and that the driving force of the Y-axis drive motor 170 y be stopped being transferred from the feed screw 171 y to the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y upon the Y-axis direction stage 71 reaching either of the upper and lower limits of movement thereof. However, taking manufacturing tolerances of the associated components into consideration, such an ideal correlation cannot be always achieved. For instance, if the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x and the feed screw 171 x (or the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y and the feed screw 171 y) are still screw-engaged with each other by a sufficient axial length in a state where the X-axis direction stage 21 (or the Y-axis direction stage 71) has reached a mechanical limit of movement thereof, there will be a possibility of jamming occurring between the feed screw 171 x and the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x (or the feed screw 171 y and the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y) due to loads placed on each of the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x and the feed screw 171 x (or the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y and the feed screw 171 y) by a further rotation of the X-axis drive motor 170 x (or the Y-axis drive motor 170 y) if the image stabilizer of the digital camera 200 incorporates no damage-protection structure such as the above described damage-protection structure.

To prevent this problem from occurring, the image stabilizing mechanism can be considered to be constructed so that the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x (the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y) is disengaged from the feed screw 171 x (171 y) to come off upon reaching either end of the feed screw 171 x (171 y) after giving the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x (the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y) a sufficient range of movement on the feed screw 171 x (171 y) so that the X-axis direction stage 21 (the Y-axis direction stage 71) may not reach a mechanical limit of movement thereof easily. However, according to this structure, the range of movement of each of the X-axis direction stage 21 and the Y-axis direction stage 71 is required to be increased more than necessary, which may undesirably increase the size of the whole image stabilizer. Additionally, if the X-axis direction stage 21 or the Y-axis direction stage 71 is jammed accidentally at some middle point in the range of movement thereof (i.e., not at either end of the range of movement thereof), heavy loads are put on the screw-engaged portion between the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x (or the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y) and the feed screw 171 x (or 171 y), regardless of the range of movement of the X-axis direction stage 21 or the Y-axis direction stage 71.

Conversely, according to the above illustrated embodiment of the image stabilizer, a difference in amount of movement in the X-axis direction between the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x and the X-axis direction stage 21 is absorbed by intermediate members (i.e., the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76), while a difference in amount of movement in the Y-axis direction between the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y and the X-axis direction stage 21 is absorbed by intermediate members (i.e., the Y-axis direction stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80), and therefore, the range of movement of each of the X-axis direction stage 21 and the Y-axis direction stage 71 does not need to be increased more than necessary. Moreover, even if the X-axis direction stage 21 or the Y-axis direction stage 71 is jammed accidentally at some middle point in the range of movement thereof (i.e., not at either end of the range of movement thereof), no heavy loads are put on the screw-engaged portion between the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x (or the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y) and the feed screw 171 x (or 171 y) because a difference in amount of movement in the X-axis direction between the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x and the X-axis direction stage 21 (or a difference in amount of movement in the Y-axis direction between the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 y and the Y-axis direction stage 21) is absorbed by the aforementioned intermediate members (the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76, or the Y-axis direction stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80).

In the present embodiment of the image stabilizer, the maximum amount of relative movement between the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 is predetermined to be capable of absorbing any difference in amount of movement between the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x and the X-axis direction stage 21 wherever each of the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x and the X-axis direction stage 21 may be positioned in the range of movement thereof. Likewise, the maximum amount of relative movement between the Y-axis direction stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80 is predetermined to be capable of absorbing any difference in amount of movement between the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y and the Y-axis direction stage 71 wherever each of the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y and the Y-axis direction stage 71 may be positioned in the range of movement thereof.

A restriction on movement on-the X-axis direction stage 21 or the Y-axis direction stage 71 is not the only cause of imposing loads on the driving force transfer mechanism. Since the CCD image sensor 60, that serves as an optical element for counteracting image shake, is supported to be freely movable in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, there is a possibility of the X-axis direction stage 21 (which holds the CCD image sensor 60) or the Y-axis direction stage 71 (which holds the X-axis direction stage 21) being subjected to a force which forces the X-axis direction stage 21 or the Y-axis direction stage 71 to move even though no driving force is applied thereto by the X-axis drive motor 170 x or the Y-axis drive motor 170 y, respectively, in the case where a shock or sudden impact is applied to the digital camera 200 when the digital camera 200 is, e.g., dropped to the ground. Even in such a case, such loads, shock or sudden impact can be securely absorbed in the present embodiment of the image stabilizer.

For instance, if the X-axis direction stage 21 is moved leftward with respect to the view shown in FIG. 24 by an external force other than the driving force of the X-axis drive motor 170 x, the first X-axis direction moving member 75 is pressed in the same direction via the transfer roller 21 c. Since this direction of pressing the first X-axis direction moving member 75 is a direction which disengages the movement limit lugs 75 a and 75 b from the movement limit lugs 76 a and 76 b, respectively, the first X-axis direction moving member 75 can solely move leftward relative to the second X-axis direction moving member 76 against the biasing force of the extension joining spring 81 x. At this time, the first X-axis direction moving member 75 does not mechanically press the second X-axis direction moving member 76, so that only a resilient tensile force of the extension joining spring 81 x acts on the second X-axis direction moving member 76, and accordingly, no excessive force is applied to the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x from the second X-axis direction moving member 76. If the X-axis direction stage 21 is moved rightward with respect to the view shown in FIG. 24 by an external force other than the driving force of the X-axis drive motor 170 x, the X-axis direction stage 21 moves in a direction to disengage the transfer roller 21 c from the linkage projection 75 g, either the first X-axis direction moving member 75 or the second X-axis direction moving member 76 is subjected to the moving force of the X-axis direction stage 21. Namely, even if the X-axis direction stage 21 is forced to move forward or reverse in the X-axis direction by an external force or the like when the X-axis drive motor 170 x is not in operation, no undue loads are exerted on the screw-engaged portion between the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x and the feed screw 171 x.

On the other hand, if the Y-axis direction stage 71 is moved downward with respect to the view shown in FIG. 24 by an external force other than the driving force of the Y-axis drive motor 170 y, this moving direction of the Y-axis direction stage 71 is a direction which disengages the movement limit lugs 80 a and 80 b from the movement limit lugs 71 c and 71 d, respectively, and accordingly, the Y-axis direction stage 71 can solely move downward relative to the Y-axis direction moving member 80 against the biasing force of the extension joining spring 81 y. At this time, the Y-axis direction stage 71 does not mechanically press the Y-axis direction moving member 80, so that only a resilient tensile force of the extension joining spring 81 y acts on the Y-axis direction moving member 80, and accordingly, no excessive force is applied to the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y from the Y-axis direction moving member 80. If the X-axis direction stage 21 is moved upward with respect to the view shown in FIG. 24 by an external force other than the driving force of the X-axis drive motor 170 x, the Y-axis direction moving member 80 is pressed upward via the engagement between the movement limit lug 80 a and the movement limit lug 71 c and the engagement between the movement limit lug 80 b and the movement limit lug 71 d. At this time, the moving force of the Y-axis direction moving member 80 does not act on the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y because this direction of movement of the Y-axis direction moving member 80 is a direction to disengage the nut contacting portion 80 e from the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y. Namely, even if the Y-axis direction stage 71 is forced to move forward or reverse in the Y-axis direction by an external force or the like when the Y-axis drive motor 170 y is not in operation, no undue loads are exerted on the screw-engaged portion between the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 y and the feed screw 171 y.

As can be understood from the above description, according to the above illustrated embodiment of the image stabilizer, in either of the following two cases, i.e., the case where a malfunction occurs in the moving operation of the X-axis direction stage 21 and/or the Y-axis direction stage 71 when it is driven by the X-axis drive motor 170 x or the Y-axis drive motor 170 y; and the case where the X-axis direction stage 21 and/or the Y-axis direction stage 71 is forced to move unexpectedly by an external force or the like, such an accidental movement can be absorbed to thereby prevent the driving mechanism for the image-stabilizing optical element from being damaged. Specifically, the image stabilizer is designed so that no heavy loads are put on either of the two screw-engaged portions between the X-axis direction driven nut member 85 x and the feed screw 171 x and between the Y-axis direction driven nut member 85 y and the feed screw 171 y, which produces a high degree of effectiveness of preventing each of these two screw-engaged portions from being damaged. Although it is possible to drive the X-axis direction stage 21 and the Y-axis direction stage 71 with a high degree of precision by narrowing the lead angles of the feed screws 171 x and 171 y, respectively, a narrowing of the lead angle of either feed screw disadvantageously reduces the strength of the feed screw mechanism. However, according to the above illustrated embodiment of the image stabilizer, the lead angle of each feed screw can be narrowed since no heavy loads are applied on either of the aforementioned two screw-engaged portions.

In the present embodiment of the image stabilizer, the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76, which serve as two moving elements movable in the X-axis direction, respectively, are coupled to each other through slidable portions provided at three different positions to be slidingly movable relative to each other in the X-axis direction. More specifically, the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 are provided with two common first (X-axis-direction) slidable portions composed of the lower and upper guide holes 75 e (75 e-A and 75 e-B) and the lower and upper guide pins 76 c engaged therein, respectively, and one common second (X-axis-direction) slidable portion composed of the guide hole 76 d and the guide pin 75 f that is engaged therein. The two first slidable portions (the upper guide hole 75 e (75 e-B) and the upper guide pin 76 c, and the lower guide hole 75 e (75 e-A) and the lower guide pin 76 c) and the one second slidable portion (the guide hole 76 d and the guide pin 75 f) are respectively provided and arranged at two different positions in the X-axis direction to be positioned at the opposite ends of the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 in the X-axis direction. In this manner, providing the image stabilizing unit IS with the first slidable portions and the second slidable portion at two separate positions in the X-axis direction, respectively, makes it possible for the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 to be guided in the X-axis direction with a higher degree of precision than the case of providing the image stabilizing unit IS with one or more X-axis-direction slidable portions only at one position in the X-axis direction. Moreover, the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 can be prevented from tilting with respect to the X-axis since each of the two first slidable portions, i.e., a combination of the upper guide hole 75 e (75 e-B) and the upper guide pin 76 c that are engaged with each other, and a combination of the lower guide hole 75 e (75 e-A) and the lower guide pin 76 c that are engaged with each other, are arranged at two different positions in the Y-axis direction that is orthogonal to the X-axis direction.

As shown in FIG. 15, the upper guide hole 75 e-B is formed elongated in the Y-axis direction so as to be longer in the Y-axis direction than the diameter of the lower guide hole 75 e-A. The lower guide hole 75 e-A is a circular hole having a diameter substantially identical to the diameter of the associated guide pin 76 c, and the diameter (width) thereof is the same as the width of the upper guide hole 75 e-B in a direction parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1. Due to this structure, the upper guide hole 75 e-B and the upper guide pin 76 c that is engaged in the upper guide hole 75 e-B serve as a rotation preventing device which prevents the lower guide hole 75 e-A and the associated guide pin 76 c from rotating relative to each other. By providing only one of the pair of guide holes 75 e, i.e., the upper guide hole 75 e-B, as an elongated hole in the Y-axis direction as described above makes it possible for each of the pair of guide pins 76 c to be securely inserted into the associated guide hole 75 e-A and 75 e-B even if there is a slight positional error in the Y-axis direction between the pair of guide holes 75 e and the pair of guide pins 76 c. Consequently, the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 can be put together easily and can be made to slide on each other smoothly, without sliding unevenly.

Since the guide pin 75 f and the guide hole 761 d, and the pair of guide holes 75 e (75 e-A and 75 e-B) and the pair of guide pins 76 c, which constitute the second X-axis-direction portion slidable and the two first X-axis-direction slidable portions, respectively, are formed integral with either of the first X-axis direction moving member 75 or the second X-axis direction moving member 76, the slidable portions between the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 are simple in structure and excel in strength. Specifically, the pair of guide holes 75 e (75 e-A and 75 e-B) and the guide pin 75 f are formed on the movement limit lugs 75 a and 75 b of the first X-axis direction moving member 75, respectively, while the pair of guide pins 76 c and the guide hole 76 d are formed on the movement limit lugs 76 a and 76 b of the second X-axis direction moving member 76, respectively. Accordingly, the movement limit lugs 75 a, 75 b, 76 a and 76 b are used not only as movement limit portions which limit the range of relative movement between the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 but also as portions of the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 on which the pair of guide holes 75 e (75 e-A and 75 e-B) and the guide pin 75 f and the pair of guide pins 76 c and the guide hole 76 d are formed, respectively, which makes it possible to simplify the structure of the image stabilizing unit IS.

The extension joining spring 81 x is positioned between the first slidable portions (the pair of guide holes 75 e and the pair of guide pins 76 c) and the second slidable portion (the guide pin 75 f and the guide hole 76 d) in the X-axis direction. Although it is possible that the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 be guided in the X-axis direction with a high degree of precision by providing the image stabilizing unit IS with the first slidable portions and the second slidable portion at two separate positions in the X-axis direction, respectively, as described above, it is further possible to improve the space efficiency to thereby miniaturize the image stabilizing unit IS by positioning the extension joining spring 81 x between the first slidable portions and the second slidable portion, which are separate from each other in the X-axis direction.

Similar to the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76, which serve as two moving elements movable in the X-axis direction, respectively, the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80, which serve as two moving elements movable in the Y-axis direction, respectively, are coupled to each other through slidable portions provided at three different positions to be movable relative to each other in the Y-axis direction. More specifically, the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80 are provided with two common first (Y-axis-direction) slidable portions composed of the pair of guide holes 80 d (80 d-A and 80 d-B) and the right and left guide pins 71 f engaged therein, respectively, and one common second (Y-axis-direction) slidable portion composed of the guide hole 71 e and the guide pin 80 c which is engaged therein. The two first slidable portions (the right guide hole 80 d (80 d-B) and the right guide pin 71 f, and the left guide hole 80 d (80 d-A) and the left guide pin 71 f) and the one second slidable portion (the guide hole 71 e and the guide pin 80 c) are provided and arranged at two different positions in the Y-axis direction to be positioned at the opposite ends of the Y-axis direction moving member 80 and the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 in the X-axis direction. In this manner, providing the image stabilizing unit IS with the first slidable portions and the second slidable portion at two separate positions in the Y-axis direction, respectively, makes it possible for the Y-axis direction moving member 80 and the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 to be guided in the Y-axis direction with a higher degree of precision than the case of providing the image stabilizing unit IS with one or more Y-axis-direction slidable portions only at one position in the Y-axis direction. Moreover, the Y-axis direction moving member 80 and the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 can be prevented from tilting with respect to the Y-axis since each of the two first slidable portions, i.e., a combination of the right guide hole 80 d (80 d-B) and the right guide pin 71 f that are engaged with each other, and a combination of the left guide hole 80 d (80 d-A) and the left guide pin 71 f) that are engaged with each other are arranged at two different positions in the Y-axis direction that is orthogonal to the X-axis direction.

The right guide hole 80 d-B (the left guide hole 80 d which fully appears in FIG. 16) is formed elongated in the X-axis direction so as to be longer in the X-axis direction than the diameter of the left guide hole 80 d-A. The left guide hole 80 d-A (the right guide hole 80 d partially shown in FIG. 16) is a circular hole having a diameter substantially identical to the diameter of the associated guide pin 71 f, and the diameter (width) thereof is the same as the width of the right guide hole 80 d-B in a direction parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1. Due to this structure, the right guide hole 80 d-B and the right guide pin 71 f that is engaged in the right guide hole 80 d-B serve as a rotation preventing device which prevents the left guide hole 80 d-A and the associated guide pin 71 f from rotating relative to each other. By providing only one of the pair of guide holes 801 d, i.e., the right guide hole 80 d-B, as an elongated hole in the X-axis direction as described above makes it possible for each of the pair of guide pins 71 f to be securely inserted into the associated guide holes 80 d-A and 80 d-B even if there is a slight positional error in the X-axis direction between the pair of guide holes 80 d and the pair of guide pins 71 f. Consequently, the Y-axis direction moving member 80 and the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 can be assembled easily and can be made to slide on each other smoothly, without sliding unevenly.

Additionally, the left guide hole 80 d-A and the associated guide pin 71 f engaged therein are positioned on a straight line extending in the Y-axis direction on which the guide hole 71 e and the guide pin 80 c, which serve as the second slidable portion, are positioned. Namely, the left guide hole 80 d-A and the associated guide pin 71 f are aligned with the guide hole 71 e and the guide pin 80 c in the Y-axis direction. In this manner, either of the two first slidable portions and the one second slidable portion can be positioned on the same straight line in the relative sliding/guiding direction thereof.

Since the guide pin 80 c and the guide hole 71 e which serve as the second Y-axis-direction slidable portion, and the pair of guide holes 80 d (80 d-A and 80 d-B) and the pair of guide pins 71 f two first Y-axis-direction slidable portions, are formed integral with either of the Y-axis direction moving member 80 or the Y-axis direction moving stage 71, the slidable portions between the Y-axis direction moving member 80 and the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 are simple in structure and excel in strength. Specifically, the pair of guide holes 80 d (80 d-A and 80 d-B) and the guide pin 80 c are formed on the movement limit lugs 80 b and 80 a of the Y-axis direction moving member 80, respectively, while the pair of guide pins 71 f and the guide hole 71 e are formed on the movement limit lugs 71 d and 71 c of the Y-axis direction moving stage 71, respectively. Accordingly, the movement limit lugs 80 a, 80 b, 71 c and 71 d are used not only as movement limit portions which limit the range of relative movement between the Y-axis direction moving member 80 and the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 but also as portions of the Y-axis direction moving member 80 and the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 on which the pair of guide holes 80 d (80 d-A and 80 d-B) and the guide pin 80 c and the pair of guide pins 71 f and the guide hole 71 e are formed, respectively, which makes it possible to simplify the structure of the image stabilizing unit IS.

The extension joining spring 81 y is positioned between the first slidable portions (the pair of guide holes 80 d and the pair of guide pins 71 f) and the second slidable portion (the guide pin 80 c and the guide hole 71 e) in the Y-axis direction. Although it is possible for the Y-axis direction moving member 80 and the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 to be guided in the Y-axis direction with a high degree of precision by providing the image stabilizing unit IS with the first slidable portions and the second slidable portion at two separate positions in the Y-axis direction, respectively, as noted above, it is further possible to improve the space efficiency to thereby miniaturize the image stabilizing unit IS by positioning the extension joining spring 81 y between the first slidable portions and the second slidable portion, which are separate from each other in the Y-axis direction.

FIGS. 26 through 28 show another embodiment (second embodiment) of the image stabilizing unit IS. In this embodiment, the elements corresponding to those in the previous embodiment (first embodiment) of the image stabilizing unit IS are designated with like reference numerals. The second embodiment of the image stabilizing unit is the same as the first embodiment of the image stabilizing unit except that one end (left end as viewed in FIG. 28) of the X-axis direction stage biasing spring 87 x is hooked on the Y-axis direction stage 71, not on the stationary holder 23. More specifically, the X-axis direction stage biasing spring 87 x is extended and installed between a spring hook 71 w formed on the Y-axis direction stage 71 and the spring hook 21 v of the X-axis direction stage 21. The same effect as that of the first embodiment of the image stabilizing unit can be obtained in the second embodiment of the image stabilizing unit.

FIG. 29 shows a third embodiment of the image stabilizing unit IS. The third embodiment is identical to the first embodiment of the image stabilizing unit IS except that slidable portions which couple the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 to each other in a manner to allow the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 to move relative to each other in the X-axis direction in the third embodiment of the image stabilizing unit IS are different in structure from those (the first and second X-axis-direction slidable portions) of the first embodiment of the image stabilizing unit IS. Furthermore, slidable portions which couple the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80 to each other in a manner to allow the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80 to move relative to each other in the Y-axis direction in the third embodiment of the image stabilizing unit IS are different in structure from those (the first and second slidable portions slidable in the Y-axis direction) of the first embodiment of the image stabilizing unit IS. Specifically, in regard to the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76, one of a couple of slidable portions (two first X-axis-direction slidable portions) formed on the movement limit lugs 75 a and 76 a is composed of the lower guide pin 76 c and the guide hole 75 e (the lower guide hole 75 e-A), likewise with the first embodiment of the image stabilizing unit IS, whereas the other of the couple of slidable portions is composed of an upper guide pin 75 j which is formed on the movement limit lug 75 a to project rightward as viewed in FIG. 29, in the direction opposite to the guide pin 76 c, and an upper guide hole 76 h formed on the movement limit lug 76 a. Similar to the upper guide hole 75 e-B in the first embodiment of the image stabilizing unit IS shown in FIG. 24, the upper guide hole 76 h is elongated in the Y-axis direction so as to be longer than the diameter of the lower guide hole 75 e-A in the Y-axis direction. A slidable portion (second X-axis direction slidable portion) formed on the movement limit lugs 75 b and 76 b is composed of a guide pin 76 i which is formed on the movement limit lug 76 b to project leftward as viewed in FIG. 29 and a guide hole 75 k formed on the movement limit lug 75 b, instead of the guide pin 75 f and the guide hole 76 d.

Similarly, in regard to the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80, one of a couple of slidable portions (first Y-axis-direction slidable portions) formed on the movement limit lugs 71 d and 80 b is composed of the right guide pin 71 f and the associated guide hole 80 d (the right guide hole 80 d-B) likewise with the first embodiment of the image stabilizing unit IS, whereas the other of the couple of slidable portions is composed of a left guide pin 80 i which is formed on the movement limit lug 80 b to project downward as viewed in FIG. 29, in the direction opposite to the guide pin 71 f, and a left guide hole 71 j formed on the movement limit lug 71 d. Similar to the left guide hole 80 d-A in the first embodiment of the image stabilizing unit IS shown in FIG. 24, the left guide hole 71 j is formed in a circular hole having a diameter substantially identical to the diameter of the associated guide pin 80 i. A slidable portion (second Y-axis direction slidable portion) formed on the movement limit lugs 71 c and 80 a consists of a guide pin 76 i which is formed on the movement limit lug 71 c, projecting upward as viewed in FIG. 29, and a guide hole 80 h formed on the movement limit lug 80 a, instead of the guide pin 80 c and the guide hole 71 e.

As can be understood from the embodiment shown in FIG. 29, in the image stabilizing unit IS of the present invention, it can be freely determined which guide pins and the associated guide holes, constituting the first and second slidable portions, are to be formed on the first and the second moving elements, and it can be freely determined which direction the guide pins are to project. For instance, in the case of the image stabilizing unit IS shown in FIG. 29, it is possible for the first X-axis direction moving member 75 to be provided with a guide pin similar to the upper guide pin 75 j instead of the lower guide pin 76 c and for the second X-axis direction moving member 76 to be provided with a guide hole instead of the guide hole 75 e (75 e-A) in which the aforementioned guide pin similar to the upper guide pin 75 j is engaged. Likewise, in the case of the image stabilizing unit IS shown in FIG. 29, it is possible for the Y-axis direction moving member 80 to be provided with a guide pin similar to the left guide pin 80 i instead of the right guide pin 71 f and for the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 to be provided with a guide hole instead of the right guide hole 80 d (80 d-B) in which the aforementioned guide pin similar to the left guide pin 80 i is engaged.

Although the present invention has been described based on the above illustrated embodiments, the present invention is not limited solely to these particular embodiments. For instance, although each of the above described embodiments of the image stabilizers according to the present invention is an optical image stabilizer incorporated in a digital camera, the present invention can also be applied to an optical image stabilizer incorporated in any other type of optical equipment such as binoculars.

Although the CCD image sensor 60 is supported to be movable linearly in two axial directions (the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction) in the above illustrated embodiments of the image stabilizing units, a manner (driving directions) of driving the image-stabilizing optical element is not limited solely to this particular driving manner. For instance, the present invention can also be applied to another type of optical image stabilizer which moves the image-stabilizing optical element only in one of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction to counteract image shake.

Although the CCD image sensor 60 is driven to counteract image shake in the above illustrated embodiments of the image stabilizing units, the image-stabilizing optical element which is driven to counteract image shake can be any other optical element such as a lens group.

Each of the above illustrated embodiments of the image stabilizing unit IS is provided with three slidable portions slidable in the X-axis direction, i.e., the two first X-axis-direction slidable portions and the one second X-axis direction slidable portion, which couple the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 to each other in a manner to allow the first X-axis direction moving member 75 and the second X-axis direction moving member 76 to move relative to each other in the X-axis direction; and another three slidable portions slidable in the Y-axis direction, i.e., the two first Y-axis-direction slidable portions and the one second Y-axis direction slidable portion, which couple the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80 to each other in a manner to allow the Y-axis direction moving stage 71 and the Y-axis direction moving member 80 to move relative to each other in the Y-axis direction. As mentioned above, providing the image stabilizing unit IS with three slidable portions for each guide direction makes it possible for the first moving element (76/ 80) and the second moving element (80/71) to perform an operation for counteracting image shake with a high degree of precision even though a simple and small structure is employed. However, if there is sufficient space in the image stabilizing unit IS, it is possible to provide more than two first slidable portions or more than one second slidable portion, i.e., to provide the image stabilizing unit IS with more than three slidable portions in total.

Obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiments of the present invention described herein, such modifications being within the spirit and scope of the invention claimed. It is indicated that all matter contained herein is illustrative and does not limit the scope of the present invention. 

1. An image stabilizer including at least one guide device which guides an image-stabilizing optical element of an optical system in a guide direction orthogonal to an optical axis and an image shake counteracting driving device which moves said image-stabilizing optical element in said guide direction so as to counteract image- shake in accordance with a direction and a magnitude of vibration applied to said optical system, said image shake counteracting driving device comprising: a drive source; a first moving element moved in said guide direction by said drive source; a second moving element capable of transferring a moving force of said first moving element to a holder which holds said image-stabilizing optical element when said second moving element is moved in said guide direction by a movement of said first moving element; and a mutual guiding device which couples said first moving element and said second moving element in a manner to allow said first moving element and said second moving element to move relative to each other in said guide direction, wherein said mutual guiding device comprises: at least two first slidable portions provided at two different positions in a direction orthogonal to said guide direction, respectively; and at least one second slidable portion provided at a position different from the positions of said two first slidable portions in said guide direction.
 2. The image stabilizer according to claim 1, wherein each of said two first slidable portions and said second slidable portion comprises: a hole formed on one of said first moving element and said second moving element; and a pin formed on the other of said first moving element and said second moving element so as to be slidably engaged in said hole.
 3. The image stabilizer according to claim 2, wherein said pin and said hole are formed integral with said one and said other of said first moving element and said second moving element, respectively.
 4. The image stabilizer according to claim 2, wherein said two holes of said two first slidable portions are mutually different in shape.
 5. The image stabilizer according to claim 1, wherein one of said two first slidable portions and said second slidable portion are positioned on a same straight line extending in said guide direction.
 6. The image stabilizer according to claim 1, wherein a first pair of lug portions are provided on one and the other of said first moving element and said second moving element, said first pair lug portions being opposed to each other in said guide direction, wherein a second pair lug portions are provided on one and the other of said first moving element and said second moving element, said second pair lug portions being opposed to each other in said guide direction, and wherein said two first slidable portions are provided between said first pair lug portions, and said second slidable portion are provided between said second pair lug portions.
 7. The image stabilizer according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said first pair lug portions and said second pair lug portions comprise a movement limit portion which limits the range of relative movement between said first moving element and said second moving element to a predetermined range of movement when said movement limit portion is brought into an engaged state.
 8. The image stabilizer according to claim 7, further comprising: at least one first biasing device which biases said first moving element and said second moving element in directions to bring said movement limit portion into said engaged state; and at least one second biasing device which biases said second moving element in a direction opposite to the biasing direction of said first biasing device, wherein said first biasing device is positioned between said two first slidable portions and said second slidable portion.
 9. The image stabilizer according to claim 1, wherein at least two of said guide devices which guide said image-stabilizing optical element linearly in at least two different guide directions in a plane orthogonal to said optical axis are provided, wherein at least two of said image shake counteracting driving devices which move said image-stabilizing optical element in said two different guide directions, respectively, are provided so as to counteract image shake, and wherein each of said two image shake counteracting driving devices includes said first moving element, said second moving element and said mutual guiding device.
 10. The image stabilizer according to claim 9, wherein said two different guide directions are orthogonal to each other.
 11. The image stabilizer according to claim 1, wherein said image stabilizer is incorporated in an imaging device, said image-stabilizing optical element comprising an image pickup device.
 12. The image stabilizer according to claim 1, further comprising a stationary frame which supports said second moving element in a manner to allow said second moving element to move linearly in said guide direction relative to said stationary frame.
 13. The image stabilizer according to claim 12, wherein said drive source comprises a motor mounted to said stationary frame.
 14. The image stabilizer according to claim 6, wherein each of said first biasing device and said second biasing device comprises an extension coil spring. 